The construction of the Greenfield Expressway faces a significant setback due to the delay in obtaining permission for soil mining, leading to a slowdown in the construction pace. The expressway, stretching 82 km in Ballia, is estimated to cost Rs 5500 crore, with Rs 2700 crore allocated for road construction and Rs 2800 crore earmarked for land acquisition. The target completion date is June 2025.
However, the ongoing work suggests that meeting the deadline seems improbable due to the unresolved issue of soil and sand procurement. The construction agency has 47 pending applications in the mining department for permission, attributed to the prevailing code of conduct.
The construction extends from Manjhi to the Ghazipur border, with initial progress tapering off notably. Engineers cite elections as a reason for their apathy. Soil, essential for road construction, requires timely procurement before the onset of rains. Despite the government lifting the ban on soil mining, bureaucratic hurdles persist.
Experts emphasize the urgency of earth filling before the rainy season, as accessing riverbanks becomes challenging thereafter. However, 47 pending files for soil mining permissions for the Greenfield Expressway are stalled due to the code of conduct. While reports from tehsils are in, the delay persists.
Notably, the government’s soil extraction for development works does not fall under the mining category, but bureaucratic processes remain unchanged.